Australia Day Tastings revealed for London, Dublin and Edinburgh

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 17 December, 2015

Wine Australia has announced the dates of its Australia Day Tastings for 2016.

For the first time, tastings will be held in London, Dublin and Edinburgh.

The Dublin tasting is now in its third year, but 2016 will be the first Australian tasting in Edinburgh in seven years.

The London day will feature 63 exhibitors offering over 1,000 wines from some 245 wineries.

The diverse range on offer will emphasise both premiumisation and regionality, reflecting growing consumer interest in provenance and terroir.

There will a focus on food-and-wine matching throughout.

The tastings in Edinburgh and Dublin will offer more than 200 wines for tasting and are designed to excite further interest in the wide variety of wines Australia has to offer in those markets.

Both Brian Walsh and Andreas Clark, chair and chief executive of Wine Australia respectively, will be present at all three events.

Walsh will also be hosting masterclasses in Dublin and Edinburgh, with Australian wine expert John McDonnell at the former and Kilikanoon's Nathan Waks at the latter.

Australia Day Tasting 2015

Laura Jewell MW, Wine Australia's head of market UK and Europe, said: "For the UK January is closely associated with Australian wine thanks to years of successful Australia Day Tastings in London.

"Now we're excited to extend this event to give a greater audience the opportunity to taste these exceptional wines and meet many of the winemakers behind them.

'These are all strong markets for Australian wine and we're delighted to bring these events together for the first time.

"I'm again calling for winemakers to join us on tour so collectively we can champion our wines to all sectors of the trade."

The London tasting will take place on January 26 at Lindley Hall.

The Dublin tasting is January 27, at the RHA Gallery, Ely Place, and the Edinburgh tasting is January 28 at the Assembly Roxy.

Members of the wine trade are invited to register for the tastings at Wine Australia's website here.